Bath-tub.



PATENTED MAR. 29, 1904.

BATH TUB.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 4, 1903.

no non'nL.

[NVENTOR W 1 T/VESSES:

Attorneys m: uonrns pnzas co, Pnuroumo WASNINGTOH 0 c Patented March 29, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY P. OOILE, OF KNOXVILLE'TENNESSEE.

BATH-TUB.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 755,747, dated March 29, 1904.

Application filed April 4, 1903 I To allwhom it hoary concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY P. Come, a citizen of the United States, residing at Knoxville, in the county of Knox and State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bath-Tubs; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to an improved inflatable bath tub designed particularly for the purpose of safely and quickly giving a full bath to invalids without removing them from the bed.

The object of the invention is to form an improved portable tub made of rubber which when inflated will have suflicient rigidity to support the water of the bath and when col lapsed may be rolled into small space for transportation.

The apparatus is particularly useful in hot or cold baths to fever patients, particularly typhoid-fever patients, in the administration of the treatment, an essential part of which is frequent baths.

The apparatus is so constructed that it may be used in bed and may be readily introduced in its collapsed condition under the body of the patient and having walls which when inflated will rise around the body and sustain the water.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the tub. Fig. 2 is a vertical section thereof when inflated. Fig. 3 is a vertical section when de flated.

Referring now particularly to the drawings, the tub is made of soft rubber, and its bottom (indicated at 6) is preferably oval in shape to economize water-space and conform to the shape of the body. The sides are made of inner and outer sheets of rubber-cloth, (indicated at 7 and 8,) spaced apart and of suflicient height to produce a tub of the desired depth.

. Serial No. 151,101. (No model.)

These sheets are joined by a series of rubber partitions 9, which extend horizontally between the parts 7 and 8 and produce a number of superposed tubes, which when inflated form the side walls of the tub. The partitions are perforated at intervals, as at 10, to allow the passage of air from one tube to the other. They are inflated by the attachment of a suitable air-pump to the nipple 11. When the tubes are deflated, the walls collapse, as shown in Fig. 3, in which position the apparatus may be readily rolled up and carried. When inflated, the tubes rise and produce a side wall of suflicient rigidity to hold water.

A rubber pipe (indicated at 12) may be used to fill or empty the tub. This pipe taps the bottom of the tub and is funnel-shaped at its free end, as at 18, where it also has a hardrubber loop 1 1, having a hook 15, adapted to hook over the edge of the tub and hold the pipe up beside the wall thereof. When it is desired to empty the tub, the pipe is unhooked and dropped, when the water will flow out. The pipe is made relatively large to give a quick discharge.

In use the tub in its collapsed condition is slipped under the patient lying in bed and then inflatedby a pump, causing the sides to rise around the patient. Water of proper temperature can then be poured into the tub, and to change or maintain the temperature additional water can be added through the pipe 12 without danger of sudden contact of such extra water with the patient. When the bath is finished, it is simply necessary to unhook and drop the tube 12, and the water will rapidly escape. The nipple is then opened, allowing the escape of the air and the rapid collapse and removal of the tub. A patient can thus be bathed by a single attendant with little disturbance and without the danger of chilling or exposure, as when baths are given in the usual manner. When collapsed, the tub may be readily rolled up and transported by a physician. The tubular construction of the sides gives maximum rigidity for the material and amount of inflation, and the pipe attachment is important for both filling and IOO lapse or other alarming symptoms occur during its administration.

Various modifications maybe made without departing from the scope of the invention, and I do not limit myself to the exact construction shown, nor otherwise, except so far as may be indicated in the following claims.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A bath-tub the side walls of which comprise a series of inflatable tubes extending around the tub.

2. A bath-tub the side walls ofwhich comprise a series of superposed inflatable tubes.

3. A bath-tub having collapsible side walls 

